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Saturday, June 27, 2009

I haven't posted any lighthouses that I have not personally visited, but I am making an exception this time. My friends Phil and Margy sent me photos of the Beachy Head Lighthouse and because of the spectacular location, I decided to share. This lighthouse was built in 1902 and sits at the bottom of the cliff at Beachy Head. It was automated in 1983. Photos taken in June 2009.

Thursday, June 25, 2009

Also called "The Lake Light" this beautiful lighthouse sits on Toronto Island on Lake Ontario at Toronto, Ontario. Built in 1808 it was one of the earliest lights on the Great Lakes, is the oldest surviving light on the Great Lakes and the second oldest surviving lighthouse in Canada. It was Decommissioned in 1957. It once was only a few metres away from the shore, but shifting currents moved it further inland over the years. It is now maintained by the Metro Toronto Parks Department. The plaque on the building speaks of its reputation as being haunted because of the mysterious disappearance of the first lightkeeper. Photos taken in June 2009.

Bulit in 1846 this light sits at the end of the West pier at Port Dover, Ontario at the mouth of the Lynn River on Lake Erie. It is automated and was damaged by a lightening strike in 1981 but has been repaired. Photo taken in June 2009.

This beautiful structure is located at Point Abino on the shore of Lake Erie and is just West of Crystal Beach (in the municipality of Fort Erie). The light was built in 1917 and automated in 1989 and then decomissioned in 1995. It is a National Historic Site and owned by the Town of Fort Erie. It is surrounded by private property, but tours are available on some Saturdays (contact the Town of Fort Erie). Photos taken in June 2009.

This light is located North of the Niagara River Front Range Light on the East shore of the Niagara River at Niagara On The Lake, Ontario. It was built in 1903. Since 1975 it has housed a water quality sampling laboratory. Photos taken in June 2009.

This light, also called the Port Dalhousie Outer Range Light was built in 1879 and sit at the end of the East pier at the North entrance to the old Welland Canal on Lake Ontario at Port Dalhousie, Ontario. It was automated in 1968 and is still active as an aid to navigation for recreational vessels. Photos taken in June 2009.

This light sits at the North entrance to the old Welland Canal on Lake Ontario at Port Dalhousie, Ontario. It was built in 1898 and replaced a previous (1893) light that was destroyed by a lightening strike. It was automated in 1968 and decomissioned in 1988. It now serves as the home of the Niagara College Sailing School. Photos taken in June 2009.

This light is located at the end of the pier on the South side of the Burlington Canal at Burlington Beach, Ontario, on the shore of Lake Ontario. It was built in 1909 and is East of the Burlington Main Light. Photo taken in June 2009.

This light is located at Burlington Beach on the South side of the Burlington Canal which leads to Hamilton Harbour on the shore of Lake Ontario. It was built in 1858 to replace a former wooden structure that was destroyed by fire in 1856. The circular limestone tower now sits behind the new lift bridge and was decomissioned in 1860. The light and the old brick lightkeeper's house are now heritage buildings. Photos taken in June 2009.

Built in 1875 this light was originally on the East Pier at Oakville, Ontario on Lake Ontario at the entrance to Sixteen Mile Creek. It was decomissioned and moved to the grounds of the Oakville Yacht Squadron in 1960. Photo taken in June 2009.

This light which was established in 1931 is a directional beacon for vessels Westbound to the inner harbour at Stockholm, Sweden. It is located on a small island on Lilla Varton Sound. Photos taken in June 2009.

This lightship, built in 1903, is currently moored at the Vasa Museum on the Island of Djurgarden, in Stockholm, Sweden. It is open to the public. The lightship is in beautiful condition. It was decommissioned in 1969. Both the lightship and the museum are worth a visit. Photos taken in June 2009.

This light is situated on the Southeast Tip of Kustaanmiekka Island, one of the islands South of Helsinki, Finland. The Suomenlinna Fortress is on the island and this light sits just below the wall of the fortress. Photos taken in June 2009.

The Harmaja Lighthouse is located on Harmaja Island which is in the Gulf of Finland South of the City of Helsinki. It is adjacent to the main shipping channel and the island is also home to the Helsinki Pilot Station. The light was built in 1889 and heightened with the concrete base in 1900. A pilot boat is seen in one of the photos that were taken in June 2009.

This lightship is currently moored in the downtown area of Helsinki and is used as a floating restaurant. It has a steel hull and was built in 1888 and decomissioned in 1937. It is reported that a drunken Russian crew ran it aground and sank it in 1917 while celebrating the Revolution. It was raised and repaied in Tallinn, Estonia the following year. Photo taken in June 2009.

This lighthouse is located on a small island approximately 5 kilometers Northwest of Kotlin Island. The current structure was built in 1810 and is believed to be the oldest active lighthouse in the area. This distant photo was taken in June 2009.

Sometimes identified as the Kronstadt Lighhouse, the Kabotazhnaya Gavan Rear Range Light is a 95 foot high structure located on the Petrovskaya Pristan mole (breakwater) in the main harbour at the Kronstadt Naval Station, Kotlin Island, Russia. Kotlin Island is Northwest of the City of St. Petersburg. The tower is white except for the side facing the range which is red and white vertical stripes. In one of the photos, the dome of the Kronstadt Naval Cathedral is in the background.

This 177 foot high concrete tower is on the South East end of Kotlin Island adjacent to the Kronstadt Naval Station. Kotlin Island is Northwest of St. Petersburg, Russia. It is believed to have been built in the 1920's. In the background of the right photograph, you can see the dome of the beautiful Kronstadt Naval Cathedral. Photos taken in June 2009.

Sitting on a semicircular outlook in front of the Old Stock Exchange building (now the Central Naval Museum) on Vasilievski, Island, St. Petersburg, Russia are two beautiful Rostral Columns that served as ancient lighthouses. These were built in 1811 and believed designed by French Architect Thomas de Thomon. They sit at the East end of the island on the Neva River. The four pairs of ships prows depicted on each column are said to represent the four major Russian Rivers. Photos taken in June 2009.

These two lights mark the narrow channel that is the entrance to the harbour area at Copenhagen Denmark. The Frihavn Sydmole is red in colour and sits on a breakwater that extends out from the Trekroner Island. The Frihavn Nordmole is green and is on a the tip of a breakwater (Strubben Breakwater) on the opposite side of the channel. Photos taken in May 2009.

About Me

Someone asked me, "What is it you love about lighthouses?'
I guess it is because seeking out lighthouses as a hobby combines so many things that I enjoy: travel, the sea, being outdoors, photography and history.
So, having a lighthouse blog, allows me to share my love of lighthouses with others. Each post will be about a different lighthouse that I have visited and have photographed over the years. I hope you enjoy. I have also started a bird blog for the birds I have photographed (August 1, 2013).